Perturb — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /pər-ˈtərb/ per·turb

Meaning & Definition of Perturb

Perturb (verb)

  1. to cause to be worried or upset, disquiet, unsettle
  2. to throw into confusion, disorder
  3. to cause to experience a perturbation

Perturb (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy

    "the caller's strange remark perturbed me enough to keep me awake that night"

    similar: agitate, ail, alarm, bother, concern, derail, discomfort, discompose, dismay, disquiet, distemper, distract, distress, disturb, exercise, flurry, frazzle, freak (out), fuss, hagride, undo, unhinge, unsettle, upset, weird out, worry
    related: aggravate, anger, annoy, bug, chafe, chivy, exasperate, fret, gall, get, grate, harass, harry, irk, irritate, nettle, peeve, pester, pique, put off, put out, rile, vex, bedevil, haunt, plague, abash, confound, confuse, discomfit, disconcert, discountenance, embarrass, faze, fluster, jar, mortify, nonplus, rattle, shake up, daunt, demoralize, discourage, dishearten, dispirit, unnerve
    opposite: calm, compose, quiet, settle, soothe, tranquilize
    near: allay, alleviate, assuage, appease, conciliate, mollify, pacify, placate, propitiate

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Perturb

The most common words with a similar meaning to Perturb:

agitate, ail, alarm, bother, concern, derail, discomfort, discompose, dismay, disquiet, distemper, distract, distress, disturb, exercise, flurry, frazzle, freak (out), fuss, hagride, undo, unhinge, unsettle, upset, weird out, worry

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Perturb

Words with the opposite meaning of Perturb:

calm, compose, quiet, settle, soothe, tranquilize

Related Words for Perturb

aggravate, anger, annoy, bug, chafe, chivy, exasperate, fret, gall, get, grate, harass, harry, irk, irritate, nettle, peeve, pester, pique, put off, put out, rile, vex, bedevil, haunt, plague, abash, confound, confuse, discomfit

Near Antonyms of Perturb

allay, alleviate, assuage, appease, conciliate, mollify, pacify, placate, propitiate

Word Forms of Perturb

Inflections: perturbed, perturbing, perturbs

Derived words: perturbable (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Perturb

Middle English, from Middle French perturber, from Latin perturbare to throw into confusion, from per- + turbare to disturb turbid

First known use: 14th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Perturb

What does "Perturb" mean?

"Perturb" means to cause to be worried or upset, disquiet, unsettle. As a verb, it is defined as: to cause to be worried or upset, disquiet, unsettle.

What is another word for "Perturb"?

Other words for "Perturb" include agitate, ail, alarm, bother, concern, derail, discomfort and discompose. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Perturb" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Perturb"?

There are 72 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Perturb". Common alternatives include agitate, ail, alarm, bother, concern, derail, discomfort, discompose, dismay and disquiet.

What is the opposite of "Perturb"?

Antonyms of "Perturb" include calm, compose, quiet, settle, soothe and tranquilize. Near antonyms include allay, alleviate, assuage and appease.

How do you use "Perturb" in a sentence?

Examples of "Perturb" in a sentence: "the caller's strange remark perturbed me enough to keep me awake that night".

Is "Perturb" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Perturb" is a verb.

How do you pronounce "Perturb"?

"Perturb" is pronounced /pər-ˈtərb/ and divided into syllables as per·turb.

What is the origin of the word "Perturb"?

"Perturb" comes from Middle English, from Middle French perturber, from Latin perturbare to throw into confusion, from per- + turbare to disturb turbid. First known use: 14th century.